MALAPASCUA ISLAND: Travel Guide 2019 (Budget + Itinerary)

Malapascua is an island located in North Cebu, Philippines that has attracted local and foreign tourists, especially divers, because of its rich marine sanctuary. It is best known for Monad Shoal where thresher sharks can be seen regularly before sunrise. But diving is not the only activity you can do in this island, it is also an idyllic destination for a laid-back holiday or a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Cebu City. Malapascua island is also a jumping-off point to Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte. I will be writing a separate Kalanggaman Travel Guide, but in the meantime, here’s my Malapascua Travel Guide with budget and itinerary to help you plan your trip.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MALAPASCUA

The best time to visit Malapascua is around December – June during the dry season so you can enjoy its beaches without having to worry much about an incoming rain or storm. The summer season (April – May) is usually crowded, especially during weekends and holidays. See graph above. Always check the weather updates before proceeding.

MALAPASCUA DIY TRAVEL GUIDE

MODE OF PAYMENT: Stack up cash (Philippine peso) as almost everything here is on cash basis.

ATM: There are no ATMs scattered in Malapascua. If you need to withdraw money, you have to go to Bogo town where ATms abound (Metrobank, DBP, Landbank, BPI,etc), about an hour away from Malapascua.

SAFETY: Malapascua island is pretty safe for tourists.

PARKING: If you are bringing your own vehicle, you have to park it near Maya Port since there’s only an outrigger boat to Malapascua Island from mainland Cebu. No passenger ferry.You can park at Sugbo Maya or D and N Lodge beside it. Parking fee is PHP 100/ USD 2 / EURO 2/SGD 3/ MYR 7 per day.

If you miss the last boat to Malapascua, you can stay at D & N Lodge, a few meters away from the New Maya Port.

How to Get to Malapascua from Cebu City

Head to North Bus Terminal in Cebu City.

Ride a van or Ceres bus bound for New Maya Port. Bus fare is roughly PHP 210/USD 4/EURO 3.41/SGD 5/SGD 5/MYR 216. The trip takes roughly 4 hours. Take note that there are 2 ports in Maya to Malapascua: Old Maya Port and New Maya Port. The Ceres buses go to the New Maya Port, other buses end up in Old Maya Port.

Walk to the port or take a motorcycle for PHP 20/USD 0.38/EURO 0.32/SGD 0.51/MYR 1.50 per person.

What to Do in Malapascua Island

1. Swimming and Beach Bumming

Malapascua although flanked by hotels, restaurants and bars has surprisingly retained its serenity. Lounge on the beach shores like most foreigners do. There are some secluded coves in the island that are ideal for swimming since they aren’t crowded by tourists.

2. Snorkeling and Island Hopping

If you want to go snorkeling, you can rent a boat for island hopping that includes snorkeling.

3. Malapascua Motorcycle Tour

You can go on a motorycle tour around Malapascua. Day tour is PHP 700 or PHP 200 per hour including the driver. Or you can rent the motorbike and drive on your own, same price. I won’t recommend driving the motorbike by yourself as you will get lost along the way, the road is tricky since you have to pass through small alleys in the village peppered with houses. You’ll just waste your time. Having a local driver helps, and saves you time. It’s the same price anyway. Tipping the driver is optional.

The tour includes a visit to the following beaches:

Lapus Lapus Beach – A typical cream sand beach in Malapascua.

Los Bamboos– This is where you can go cliff jumping in Malapascua. Our driver told us, they don’t really promote cliff jumping here as it can be dangerous. But you can jump at your own risk. The cottages here were destroyed by the typhoon. Entrance fee is PHP 25 per person. The view of the rock formations here and the neighboring beaches are beautiful.

The Lighthouse– There’s a white sentinel crowning the island of Malapascua, it’s a good spot for sunset watching.

Langub Beach– My favorite beach in Malapascua. It has powdery white sand and azure water. Not crowded and not developed yet.

Bounty Beach –Not really a part of the motorcycle tour, but if you are arriving in Malapascua, this is the first beach that you will most likely see. Bounty Beach is the main beach in Malapascua fringed by hotels, dive shops and restaurants.

4. Malapascua Island Diving

Dive shops are scattered around the island. Malapascua is known for its thresher sharks. You may check out :

5. Cliff Jumping

For adrenaline junkies, during your island hopping tour or motorcycle tour, you can go cliff jumping at Los Bamboos. Jump at your own risk. This is not really encouraged by the drivers and tour guides in Malapascua but it’s not prohibited either. This place has become a popular site for cliff jumping, just make sure someone is there to assist you (who knows how to swim), in case something happens.

6. Sunset and Sunrise Watching

Malapascua has one of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises in the Philippines. Don’t miss it!

7. Happy Hour

Some bars and restaurants usually offer Happy Hour like Ocean Vida, they offer buy one take 2 on selected drinks from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Where to Stay in Malapascua Island

Malapascua Hotel

There’s a wealth of resorts in Malapascua Island, you will never run out of a place to stay. Here are some of the top-rated Malapascua Resorts according to Agoda users. To check the room rates and resort photos, change the date to your preferred booking date and click search.

Where to Eat in Malapascua Island

A restaurant in Malapascua Island

Malapascua Restaurants

Food in Malapascua are quite expensive as most restaurants cater to foreign tourists, prepare around PHP 250 /USD 5 /EURO 4/SGD 6/MYR 19up for a decent meal, but you can still ask the locals for the nearest eateries.

Ging Ging’s Restaurant–The cheapest restaurant we found in Malapascua. Main Dishes start at PHP 100.

Hi, great feature. Very helpful information. I would like to know if you have any information about the conditions of this island AFTER the Haiyan storm. I would like to visit in March this year, but I am not sure everything is still the same as described here. Any response would be helpful, thank you!

Hi Gael! What’s the name and contact details of the homestay you stayed at in Maya? Got a late afternoon flight going to Cebu and would like to move forward to get to Maya agad and get on the first boat to Malapascua in the morning.

God bless and Many thanks sa blog mo…It such a good help since im planning to go to Cebu coming Jan 2017. So siguro I will stick to my Cebu city and Lapu lapu Mactan area tour kesa Malapascua. Again God bless and thank you for promoting our coutryside……Been many places(Im seafarer by profession) but theres no place like PHILIPPINES…

Hi ms gael, your blog is very helpful para sa mga traveler who wants to discover some place. Haha I used your blog as a preference when we go to siquijor. It helps us a lot 🙂 I just wanna ask a few question bout maya port, meron bang barko just like montenegro in siquijor na pwedeng magdala ng motor papuntang malapascua?? naka booked na kami for july’s trip. Thankyou in advance. GODBLESS and more travel and blogs to come. Loveyou ❤ more power💪

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